It seems most shoppers took advantage of early sales

Shoppers wait for the doors to open at Kmart in Kinston just before 5 a.m. on Friday. The main draw at the store was the discounted big screen televisions.

Zach Frailey / The Free Press

By Jessika Morgan / Staff Writer

Published: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 07:17 PM.

Kinston shoppers steered clear of the chaotic hassle usually associated with Black Friday when they braved 30-degree weather in exchange for door-busting discounts.

Lines were organized, peaceful and short early Friday morning.

Some retailers had several strings of sale events, opening and closing Black Friday shopping at various times since 8 p.m. on Thursday.

It appeared most Kinston shoppers took advantage of the early sales to avoid standing in line during hours when most people are still sleeping, but there were still a few big ticket items businesses held off until the last minute.

Shoppers couldn’t buy a coveted 50-inch flat screen television that Walmart had on sale until 5 a.m. on Friday. Josh Thompson of Kinston waited in line over three hours to get his.

“There were only three TVs left when I got mine,” he said proudly, as he held up the giant box too big for the shopping cart.

Kinston shoppers steered clear of the chaotic hassle usually associated with Black Friday when they braved 30-degree weather in exchange for door-busting discounts.

Lines were organized, peaceful and short early Friday morning.

Some retailers had several strings of sale events, opening and closing Black Friday shopping at various times since 8 p.m. on Thursday.

It appeared most Kinston shoppers took advantage of the early sales to avoid standing in line during hours when most people are still sleeping, but there were still a few big ticket items businesses held off until the last minute.

Shoppers couldn’t buy a coveted 50-inch flat screen television that Walmart had on sale until 5 a.m. on Friday. Josh Thompson of Kinston waited in line over three hours to get his.

“There were only three TVs left when I got mine,” he said proudly, as he held up the giant box too big for the shopping cart.

Walmart officials said 28 TVs were sold.

About his experience in the long line, Thompson added, “Nobody was aggressive in anyway, it was peaceful.”

That was in contrast to last year’s Black Friday experience at Walmart, when things became so heated that at one point, a shopper was pepper-sprayed.

The line at K-Mart Friday only had about 12 people before its 5 a.m. sale began. Many customers sat in their cars, running heat, as they waited.

Tangy Foy was the first person in line and she arrived at 3:15 a.m. She had a blanket wrapped around her whole body and was waiting to buy a big-screen TV.

“I came out here because of the chaos,” she said while laughing at the size of the wimpy line. “I just want to get my TV and go home.”

K-Mart Manager Cynthia Fields said Black Friday sales upped the store’s sales by 15 percent last year. She said the expected 250 customers were coming for the televisions.

“We made sure everybody was here on time and had our ducks in a row,” she said after opening store doors. “We’re making sure we bring customers in, in a single file.”

The store offered complimentary coffee and donuts. The treats — coupled with the lack of crowdedness — might have been the reason behind K-Mart’s smooth sailing Black Friday.

J.C. Penney, although offering no major sales, had the most unusual line situation during the 5 a.m. hour on Friday.

Customers stretched from the front doors to across the parking lot, forcing traffic around them.

“There were a few cars ahead of me,” said Peggy Young, who was the first person in line, “but you’ve got to step out and be the first to get out there in that cold.”

She said she was in line around 5:15 a.m. and was shopping for clothing.

Another J.C. Penney customer, Dorthea Williams, waited in line and called this year’s Black Friday action “surprising” because there weren’t many people there.

J.C. Penny and the Neuse Sport Shop were among the few retailers who had deals all day Friday.

“We have a parade of discounts that roll out to center store and every hour we announce a really low price on an item,” Russell Rhodes, owner of Neuse Sport Shop, said. He said it was a yearly tradition for the store and the selected item will likely sell out.

Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessikamorgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.

Breakout box:

Santa’s list

To see a list of the toys, gadgets and gifts area shoppers want for Christmas, see Sunday’s Free Press